Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why people moving here from california always choose to live in some hick town in Virginia? A year from now the OP is going to be posting here about how much he hates DC. No wonder.

hick town? Nothing inside the beltway is a hick town.

You have to go at least 30 miles outside DC to hit anything like "hick town." NoVa has lots of nice parks, mutiple commercial areas with good restaurants/shops, access to kayaking/hiking trails, wineries, etc. I like going into DC for dinner/drinks once or twice a month, but lifestyle-wise, I will always be a Virginia girl

Don't listen to this DC cheerleader OP. You can still have access to the city without having to deal with the cost and headaches of living there.

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why people moving here from california always choose to live in some hick town in Virginia? A year from now the OP is going to be posting here about how much he hates DC. No wonder.

hick town? Nothing inside the beltway is a hick town.

Agree on adding Reston to your list. (There are several ways to Tyson's from reston). You should also add Herndon to your list - next door to reston.

I don't understand why people moving here from california always choose to live in some hick town in Virginia? A year from now the OP is going to be posting here about how much he hates DC. No wonder.

Anonymous wrote:Look at north bethesda. Or if you are willing to consider a smaller home in bethesda. Best commute and city of all you liSted.

This makes zero sense. Why would you want to live in Bethesda/North Bethesda if your commute is to Tysons?!?

Look at north bethesda. Or if you are willing to consider a smaller home in bethesda. Best commute and city of all you liSted.

Why are you not looking in Falls Church and Reston/Sterling? Those would be nice places to live.

OP welcome to Northern Virginia. I would suggest Annandale, the area closer to Fairfax side, City of Fairfax, and Centreville. Check the zip codes:

Annandale, 22003 - Elementary schools are Camelot, Cantebury woods, Wakefield Forest
Fairfax, 22032 by GMU
Fairfax, 22030 also by GMU (has a special tax)
Centreville 20120 near Fair Oaks area
Herndon 20171 (But only that zip code) it has the best schools which helps in resale value. I believe some of them go to Oakton HS.

I currently live in Annandale and love the area. From all of these places you can take 495 with the EZPass or you can take back roads on Gallows road and cut off the back way to get to Tysons. I take 25 minutes to Tysons Corner mall on the worst days from home, and I drive speed limit which is slow.

PP come! Get real. Yes, we all cross the bridge to drive into DC from VA. Sure. But it makes zero sense to add crossing the river to your commute. If you are lucky enough to have landed a dream job in VA, live in VA. Why on earth would you choose to add a crazy commute to your day? OP has no idea how awful the traffic is here. We are used to it, but this person isn't. Telling them MD and DC are perfectly good options is terrible adivice.

Anonymous wrote:It can't be said enough: Do not commit to living anywhere you need to cross a bridge. So no MD/DC. I did that commute for years and hated it so much.

Don't be hyperbolic here. Ft Washington may not be a bad option for her situation.

I commute from Alexandria to Upper Marlboro everyday and it is not a big deal, like 30 minutes rush hour.

Lots of people commute from Arlington into DC, another bridge commute.

But Reston is probably OPs best option.

I have not tried the new metro. I work at Tysons in the one the buildings next to the mall and it takes me about 20-30 minutes daily just to get out of my parking lot to one of the main roads.

I like the commute down Chain Bridge (rte 123) between Fairfax City and Tysons. It is a straight shot about 10 miles, and there are some single homes in your price range in Fairfax. Although traffic crawls through Vienna on a two lane road, the overall drive is pleasant.

A Reston commute involves tolls that are only going up. I think it's $5 round trip to Tysons now

Anonymous wrote:If you are working in McLean, have you thought about getting a house there? I dont know too much about the area (I'm in Chevy Chase) but I think it's beautiful, and there might be some affordable places, though I know McLean is famous for its McMansions. If not there, then perhaps Alexandria or Arlington? Those are close to DC, and it would be a much easier commute than MD. Though I grew up in Glen Echo and if you are at all outdoor inclined, all the areas near to the C&O canal are absolutely gorgeous and you kind of feel like you're living in the middle or the country, by some measures, rather than near to DC, at least in the summer and spring and fall when the foliage is out.

Tear downs in McLean start at $750

DC might be a reverse commute - I know people who drive out to springfield from NW and it's manageable - but I agree that MD would be tough and PG Co. and awful commute. Someone above mentioned Reston and I agree that I think that community around Lake Anne is charming - I nearly bought there except it was pre-silver line and I do work in DC and the haul all the way in was bad.

It can't be said enough: Do not commit to living anywhere you need to cross a bridge. So no MD/DC. I did that commute for years and hated it so much.